Top draft pick Anthony Rendon injured himself running the bases last night.

CHICAGO — Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon has been diagnosed with a "badly sprained" left ankle, according to a club spokesman, after slipping while rounding third base during last night's Class A Potomac game at Lynchburg.

X-rays taken on Rendon's ankle were negative, according to another club official, but the organization won't have a timetable for his return until swelling has diminished and he's able to be re-examined by doctors.

Rendon had doubled in the top of the fourth inning and was trying to score on Justin Bloxom's subsequent base hit to center field when he slipped coming around third base and fell to the ground, according to eyewitnesses.

The 21-year-old third baseman lay motionless for several minutesRead more »

It really could have been next year MicheleS with a September call-up this year. He's that good.This definitely retards his progress. But there's Jeff Kobernus who had a lot of injury issues early on after being drafted high out of college. It took a year or so but he seems completely recovered if, albeit, somewhat behind.

Just wanted to remind people that bad sprain (depending on the grade) is worse a fracture in the sense that it takes longer to heal properly. It may be months before he can come back. Some people just can't get a break with injuries…

Seconding anonymous regarding sprains. I sprained my left ankle in December and even now it's not 100%. I didn't have the treatment I'm sure Anthony will have, but healing tendons and ligaments stretched this way and that takes time and patience.

When I was in the Air Force, I got a bad sprain in a basketball game. The orthopod told me my ligaments were all torn. I asked him if they could sew the ligaments back together. He said, "Yes, when they can sew spaghetti back together."We can all forget about Rendon. His history, before we drafted this gimp, showed we should never have taken him. He is our Kwame Brown. One day it will be revealed he is Nick Johnson's son.The Rendon signing was a gigantic mistake.

Write off?! I've sprained both ankles, badly (note to young'uns who might be following along, at home: barefoot, moonlight drunken basketball? Just say no…), hell be fine, in a few weeks. Worrisome pattern seems to be developing, though…. Rendon kinda sounds like he could be Cajun…. Maybe someone could work up some good juju up, for him?